As per Punjab Government’s zero tolerance policy against corruption, Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO on Sunday informed that Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has taken strong action against its four officials.

PSPCL suspended Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) Gurtej Singh, Upper Division Clerk (UDC) Mehar Chand, Lower Division Clerk (LDC) Sangeet Sohata, all officials of Bariwala distribution sub-division of Sri Muktsar Sahib for gross violations of commercial instructions regarding the voluntary disclosure scheme (VDS) for agriculture tubewell consumers. In another case, Dirba’s junior engineer Parneet Kaur suspended for the charges of corruption.

The Minister said that the Chief Minister has directed the officers to provide transparent and efficient administration to the people. “Exhibiting zero tolerance against corruption, the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has, so far, in a short span of its tenure arrested 45 government officers or officials and others on charges of corruption...The Chief Minister had also released an anti-corruption helpline number to facilitate the people for lodging their complaints against corruption through WhatsApp. And this helpline has done miracles as people are using it as an effective tool in their war against corruption,” said the Minister.

“PSPCL has received a complaint on the Whatsapp regarding gross violations of commercial instructions in the working of Bariwala distribution sub-division of Sri Muktsar Sahib. During the investigation, PSPCL enforcement wing Bathinda has found that officials of Bariwala distribution sub-division of Sri Muktsar Sahib has been forcing and harassed agriculture tubewell consumers to give test reports for extension of load of agriculture tubewell connections via private contractors which is a gross violation of commercial instructions of the voluntary disclosure scheme launched for agriculture tubewell consumers,” said the Minister.

He said that in another case, on the basis of  a complaint against Dirba junior engineer Parneet Kaur by a consumer regarding load extension of a agriculture tubewell connection after inspection on the spot, it was found that Rs 3000 were recovered from the pocket of outsource driver Pargat Singh. “PSPCL has suspended Parneet Kaur with immediate effect,” he added.

PSPCL has also withdrawn outsource vehicle contract with Pargat Singh with immediate effect, and also wrote to Dirba Police Station SHO and Sangrur Deputy Superintendent Police  (Vigilance) to register a FIR against Pargat Singh.